Topps released their second series of baseball cards for the 2022 season in July, continuing their tradition of producing the flagship licensed MLB card product. Series 2 saw the inclusion of players who made their major league debuts or were traded after the initial Series 1 release in April. As with any new Topps series, there were several highly sought after rookie cards and parallels to be found in Series 2 packs and boxes. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best and most valuable cards investors and collectors searched for from the 2022 Topps Series 2 release.
One of the biggest rookie attractions in Series 2 was Trayce Thompson of the Detroit Tigers. As the brother of NBA star Klay Thompson, Trayce generated plenty of hype in his first MLB season at age 31. His base rookie card quickly settled as one of the most expensive from the set on the secondary market. The Thompson rookie is a key card for any Tigers PC collection. Another hot rookie was Emmanuel Rodriguez of the Kansas City Royals. Rodriguez made his MLB debut in 2022 and showed potential as a power-hitting catcher. His Topps Series 2 rookie became a strong long-term hold for collectors.
Bobby Witt Jr., the top prospect in baseball who broke out with the Royals in 2022, had one of the most popular and valuable rookie cards in Series 1. His short print parallel from Series 2 became hugely sought after as well. The Witt Jr. Sepia parallel card numbered to only /199 copies created a frenzy online. It rapidly became the priciest single card from the entire set. Most experts predict Witt Jr. will be a perennial All-Star and his rookie collection will gain tremendously in value in the years ahead. His Series 2 sepia stands out as one of the smartest long term investments a collector could make.
Another star rookie with a coveted parallel was Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles. Rutschman was the top pick in the 2019 draft and considered a can’t-miss catcher, and he began to show that in his first full season in 2022. His Topps Series 2 Gold Foil parallel /2021 was limited and found its way into the hands of only the quickest buyers. It joined the ranks of the Witt Jr. sepia as an ultra-short print card guaranteed to increase in worth over the long haul. For Orioles PC collectors, the Rutschman gold parallel became imperative to obtain.
Veteran superstars always hold value in the secondary market as well. Two of the most iconic players featured promo cards in Series 2 that immediately captured collector attention. The Aaron Judge Rainbow Foil promo card numbered to /99 exemplified the hype around the AL MVP front runner’s incredible 2022 season with the Yankees. It rose to become the most expensive Series 2 card available. Meanwhile the Albert Pujols 700th Home Run Milestone Moments card commemorating his historic achievement was a no-brainer addition for any Pujols PC or vintage card collection. Both the Judge and Pujols promos provided excellent short term gains and remain sure-fire long term keepers.
Among the most valuable base rookie cards to emerge from Series 2 beyond the biggest names already mentioned were Oneil Cruz and Steven Kwan of the Pirates and Guardians respectively. Cruz brought elite tools and pop to Pittsburgh, while Kwan was a sensation as a contact-oriented rookie outfielder for Cleveland. Their rookie debuts in Series 2 became cornerstones for rebuilding their franchises’ collections. Additional rookies like Michael Harris (Braves), Spencer Steer (Reds) and Ryan Pepiot (Dodgers) also debuted in the set to strong initial demand. All provided shrewd speculation opportunities for investors.
In terms of parallels and short prints outside the superstars, several others stood out. The Luis Arraez Blue Rainbow Foil /99 for the batting champ was coveted. The Andres Gimenez Gold /2021 and Steven Kwan Sepia /199 parallels held promise. Garrett Mitchell’s Gold Rainbow /70 for the Brewers drew looks. International signings like Pasquantino, Valera and Arana garnered interest too. Veterans like deGrom, de Jong, and Gallo in new uniforms piqued collectors as well.
In summary, Topps Series 2 always delivers the goods for both collectors and investors. From elite rookies to superstar veterans, parallels and short prints, there was no shortage of worthwhile cards to be unearthed in packs or purchased on the resale market. With the quality of young talent and proven stars featured, many Series 2 cards from 2022 are sure to appreciate nicely in the years to come. It will be fascinating to see which end up as the true blue chip investments that emerge over time.
